I'm still pretty new to smoking, but I figured I'd offer up how my usual experience goes.

I almost always smoke at night, usually pretty late because it's the only time when I'm free. Recently, it has meant bundling up and putting on multiple layers. Then I typically select the smoke, which is usually dependent on my mood and how long I want to stay outside. I still have to watch to make sure I pair full belly with full smoke so I don't get .

The next step is setting up my smoking area on the porch. I usually grab a coke (with rum, scotch, or jack depending on what I have around), my video ipod, a small cushion I sit on, ashtray, lighter, cutter, and sometimes blanket.

Before lighting or cutting, I always make a point to smell the cigar. I find that it's easier to pick up the flavors in the smoke if I smell them on the cigar beforehand. They don't always correspond, but mostly they do.

After cutting I lightly put the foot of the cigar into the flame, making a point to rotate it. Once the entire foot is somewhat blackened I will take a few light puffs and then a deep one or two to get the cigar going strongly.

In the beginning I smoke somewhat fast, in order to make sure the cigar burns well. I always make a point take a few deep puffs and let the smoke stay in my mouth for a while to see if I can pick up any flavors. After a while, I typically get into whatever I'm watching on the ipod (The Wire, season 1 at the moment) and let the cigar burn slowly.

Typically I only smoke 3/4s of the cigar as the end tends to have burn problems and not be as tasty. I find it's usually too much effort so I let it die. All in all about an hour.